Safety drip chamber spike with breakable feature

Abstract

An intravenous (IV) spike for administering a medicinal fluid from a container may include a head portion at a proximal end thereof, a base portion at a distal end thereof, and an elongate body portion connecting the head and the base portions. The elongate body portion may be configured to be coupled to the container. The IV spike may further include a radial notch extending at least partially along a circumference of an outer surface of the elongate body portion. The radial notch may be recessed radially inward from the outer surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravenous (IV) spike assembly for administering a medicinal fluid from a container into a drip chamber while preventing spike injury, the IV spike assembly comprising:
 an IV spike comprising a head portion at a proximal end thereof, a base portion at a distal end thereof, and an elongate body portion, and a first engagement feature, wherein the elongate body portion extends between the head portion and the base portion, and is configured to be coupled to the container; and   a spike cover comprising an elongate body and a base, the base having a second engagement feature configured to engage against the first engagement feature when the IV spike is inserted into the elongate body.   
     
     
         2 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the elongate body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature at least partially along a circumference of an outer surface of the IV spike. 
     
     
         4 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature extends between a proximal end of the base portion and a distal end of the elongate body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the base portion comprises a cross-sectional area that decreases toward the elongate body portion. 
     
     
         6 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature is a radial notch that extends into an outer surface of the IV spike, and the second engagement feature is a protrusion that extends from the base of the spike cover. 
     
     
         7 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a diameter of the radial notch is less than an outer diameter of the elongate body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the radial notch extends along an entire circumference of the outer surface of the elongate body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature comprise complementary threads. 
     
     
         10 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion comprises a spike head disposed at the proximal end, the spike head having a puncture tip and a puncture base having a fluid inlet at an upper end thereof, wherein a fluid channel extends from the fluid inlet, through the elongate body portion, and into a drip chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the IV spike comprises a thermoplastic polymer material. 
     
     
         12 . The IV spike assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the IV spike further comprises a glass fiber reinforcement material to facilitate breakage of the elongate body portion in the container as the first engagement feature creates a stress concentration point when a force is exerted on the IV spike. 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing an IV spike assembly for administering a medicinal fluid from a container into a drip chamber while preventing spike injury, the method comprising:
 providing an IV spike comprising a head portion at a proximal end thereof, a base portion at a distal end thereof, and an elongate body portion, and a first engagement feature, wherein the elongate body portion extends between the head portion and the base portion, and is configured to be coupled to the container; and   providing a spike cover comprising an elongate body and a base, the base having a second engagement feature, wherein the spike cover is configured to receive the IV spike into the elongate body such that the second engagement feature engages against the first engagement feature.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the IV spike is configured to break along the first engagement feature, such that the base portion separates from the elongate body portion, when any of a twisting and/or bending force is exerted on the spike cover. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, when the base portion separates from the elongate body portion, the IV spike remains within the spike cover. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first engagement feature at least partially along a circumference of an outer surface of the IV spike. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first engagement feature is a radial notch that extends into an outer surface of the IV spike, and the second engagement feature is a protrusion that extends from the base of the spike cover. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising positioning the radial notch on the elongate body at a position closer to the base than to the head portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the radial notch extends along an entire circumference of the outer surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature comprise complementary threads.